ERA ENDS: Gladstone Hotel building demolished

Tom has been with News Regional Media since 2013, having worked in newsrooms across south-west Queensland. Prior to his appointment at The Chronicle, he was the editor of the Western Star in Roma for 18 months. Growing up in Brisbane, he studied journalism at Queensland University of Technology. Away from work, he is happily in a relationship with his partner Sarah and enjoys playing music with his band in Toowoomba and supporting the Brisbane Broncos.

Mr Wagner's 102-room hotel and tavern project was hit with even more conditions from the Toowoomba Regional Council on Wednesday in a special meeting, relating to parking availability and access onto Kwong Sang Walk.

Speaking after the meeting, the property developer and businessman said the council had to deal with a series of systemic issues in its bureaucracy.

"What this meeting highlights is there is a myriad of systemic issues within the TRC bureaucracy that need to be sorted as a matter of urgency, if we expect development to keep prospering at a rate of knots," he said.

"It's heavily conditioned, which will take a bit of work but we're confident we can work through those conditions with the council.

"It is (drawn out) - after that meeting, I don't see us having a (full) approval until early next year.

"It's costing us a hell of a lot of money, even the holding costs on that site is enormous, whilst we're waiting on action from the councillors."

Kenneth Wagner, who is redeveloping the Gladstone Hotel into a massive hotel and retail precinct.Contributed